Influences of monomer compatibility on sizing performance of locust bean gum-g-P(MA-co-AA)

Abstract

In order to impart good application performance to locust bean gum (LBG) sizes for polyester yarns, methyl acrylate (MA) and acrylic acid (AA) monomers with a variation in feed molar ratio from 1/9 to 4/6 were grafted onto the molecular chains of native LBG to obtain LBG-g-P(MA-co-AA) products with similar grafting ratios through Fenton redox system. Effects of monomer compatibility of MA and AA on sizing performance of the LBG-g-P(MA-co-AA) were studied in terms of apparent viscosity, contact angle of sizing paste on polyester fibers, water-solubility, mechanical properties of sizing film, and adhesion to polyester fibers. It was found that grafting MA and AA with rational compatibility onto the molecular chains of LBG was an effective method to improve the application performance of the vegetable gelatin sizes, such as good toughness of sizing film and high adhesion to polyester fibers. In view of overall performance of the LBG-g-P(AA-co-MA) sizes, the appropriate feed molar ratio of MA/AA should be 3/7.